"...Whether he grew up in Piddletrenthide is unclear as when he got married, in Piddlehinton, he was living in the Parish of Tolpuddle...”.

Charles Shepherd's parents James and Sarah Shepherd are believed to have been James Shepherd and Sarah Teuxbury. They appear to have had at least six children, the first being born in 1752. This would put their year of birth at before 1736

Charles Shepherd and Ann Croad were married in Piddlehinton in 1798.

23.01.1798 No. 20 Charles Shepherd of the Parish of Tolpuddle and Ann Croad of this Parish were Married in this Church by Banns this Twenty Third day ofJanuary in the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Eight by Me Thomas Hobson Minister. This Marriage was Solemnised between usThe Mark of Charles X ShepherdThe Mark of Ann X Shepherd late CroadIn the presence of John Adams, James Gibbs (Witnesses both signed).

There are no entries in the Piddlehinton Banns Register between 06.07.1794 and 17.05.1801. However as Charles came from Tolpuddle the following entry can be found.

No. 10 Banns of Marriage between Charles Shepherd of this(?) Parish & Ann Croad of the Parish of Piddlehinton Dorset were Published on the three Sundays following:That is to say, on Sunday the 12th Nov 1797, on Sunday the 19th Nov 1797, on Sunday the 26th Nov 1797 By Me T.Seymour Curate.

Charles and Ann started their family soon afterwards as shown by the following entries in the Piddlehinton Parish Records between 1790 and 1859. The entries are a typical example of how the spelling of the surname keeps changing compared with the modern day version.

There is no other information on Charles and Ann until the first Census appears in 1841 when they were still living in Piddlehinton with their youngest son William. The Census also shows, living either side of them, were two other Shepard families, one of whom was probably the family of their son John ....”

The census record for 1841 is shown under William Shephard 1817 – 1910

1851 Piddlehinton Census

My research pointed to the possible death of Ann Sheppard in Dorchester Q2 1852 vol 5a page 248. The death certificate shows that Ann was 82 when she died and gives her ‘occupation’ as ‘Widow of Charles Sheppard Collar Maker’. Unfortunately this is the wrong person as we know that Charles Shepard did not die until 1857. His death was registered by an Ann Sheppard who may have been his wife or his daughter.

The only other death register entry which might possibly be Ann is as follows but in discussion with Nigel we believe that 1959 is the more likely: